Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources, or support its efforts.

Addresses of the societies are for the most part where their meetings are held as they are by-and-large not brick-and-mortar institutions.

The Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry is the principal family history society for the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. The modern metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton (collectively known as the West Midlands) are within our area. The metropolitan boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton are also sometimes collectively referred to as "The Black Country."

BMSGH has been restyled as Midland Ancestors. The new name reflects the changing needs in the family history market and is part of a wide-ranging revamp to create a family history society for the 21st century.

The Midland Catholic History Society was formed in 1996 by the merger of the Staffordshire Catholic History Society and the Worcestershire Catholic History Society. Staffordshire was founded in 1960 and Worcestershire in 1962 (amalgamated with the Federated Western Marches Recusant Society in 1981). Both Staffordshire and Worcestershire were included in the Midland Vicariate Apostolic (1688-1840), and the Central Vicariate (1840-50) and the Diocese, later Archdiocese, of Birmingham (1850-). The journals of the two societies were merged in 1991 and this allowed the regular appearance of a well produced publication drawing on material from all over the Midlands. The Worcestershire journal, Worcester Recusant, had long included material from Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

The Ranulf Higden Society transcribes and translates medieval Latin documents associated with Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire. Some people for their own purposes need to read and understand medieval records written in Latin or Anglo-Norman but do not have the benefit of the kind of support normally provided by postgraduate courses in universities. The Society was formed to provide a means by which they might receive continuing instruction in various relevant fields and encourage and support.

The aims of the Society laid down in 1893 were to promote the study of the history and literature of early Methodism, research into the Wesley's, and investigation into the beginnings and development of Methodism. To study and promote the history of all branches of Methodist history in the West Midlands area. Area: The Birmingham and Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist Districts.

The Wolverhampton Civic Society was founded in 1960 and in 2010 it merged with the Wolverhampton History and Heritage Society to become the Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society. Our aims are to promote the city through talks by expert speakers on various topics relating to Wolverhampton, the promotion of local history research, the erection of blue plaques and the scrutinising of planning applications. We are dedicated to promoting the history and heritage of Wolverhampton and ensuring that any new buildings and developments do not adversely affect the character and image of our great city!

The Society's site contains material about Wolverhampton's history and heritage, and Black Country towns. It is hoped that it will turn into an exercise in interactive co-operative writing and become a focus for those who know something about, or are finding out something about Wolverhampton and the surrounding area's history and heritage.

Audley Parish is situated in the rolling hills of North Staffordshire and has a long and interesting history, including farming and a period of intensive coal mining. Since 1986 the Audley and District Family History Society has been working to make records available for Audley and its adjoining parishes. Our records are based on the ancient ecclesiastical parish of Audley, which comprises of Audley Township, Bignall End, Halmer End, Knowle End, Park End, Eardley End and Talke. The adjoining area comprises of the ancient parishes of Barthomley and Church Lawton in Cheshire, and Wolstanton, Keele, Madeley and Betley in Staffordshire.

The regular monthly meetings are devoted to a programme of talks on topics of local historical interest or on wider issues which relate to such events in the village; visits to local and distant sites, landscapes, properties, buildings, record offices, archives, etc.; meetings at which local research is planned and carried out; and the experiences of growing up in the village and family life in the 20th century and before.

The Society has an interest in the Coal Mining Heritage of the Cannock Chase Coalfield. It is researching and writing the history of various Colliery Companies and Collieries and, of course, the Cannock Chase Coalfield.

Aims are to broaden the understanding of Cheslyn Hay social and local history, together with supplying help and knowledge for people who have Cheslyn Hay ancestors who need guidance and support to answer their many historical questions.

The website provides information about Codsall & Bilbrook History Society, its activities and meetings. The Society has also published some archive material on the site. There are 100 A4-sized pages of text and pictures which include residents' memories from the early part of the 20th Century, the struggle to get Codsall a village hall of its own, an archive postcard collection, and extracts from our History Trails to help walkers explore the area on foot.

Eccleshall Historical Society arranges informal meetings for people with an interest in history in general and local history in particular. ​Visits to places of historical interest are included in each years’ programme.

The Society is a focus for those who wish to learn more about the history of Rugeley (Staffordshire) and its surrounding parishes. It serves Rugeley, Staffordshire, and the neighbouring parishes. We care about the heritage of the town of Rugeley and its surrounding area.

The Society is actively involved in promoting research into the history of the town of Leek and surrounding villages in the Staffordshire Moorlands. It aims to give local historians opportunities to display their findings and explain their discoveries to as wide an audience as possible.

We promote, maintain, and encourage the growth and development of interests in local and family history of the Village and Parish of Norton in the Moors in North Staffordshire. It is also our goal to preserve Records and Photographs of the Village and Parish (including transcriptions and publications).

Three ancient parishes. Hamstall Ridware; Mavesyn Ridware and Pipe Ridware are in the County of Staffordshire in the English Midlands. The Parish of Mavesyn Ridware includes Hill Ridware and Blithbury: Hamstall Ridware includes Nethertown. This society is dedicated to the history of these parishes.

Sedgley Local History Society [SLHS] is a Black Country group based in the village of Sedgley. Here, the heritage of the Manor of Sedgley in south Staffordshire, is focused through its nine villages - Sedgley, Gospel End, Cotwall End, Upper Gornal, Lower Gornal, Woodsetton, Coseley, Ettingshall, and Brierley - on a history of people, places and events.

The objects of the Society shall be to be concerned with, and have regard for the history, archaeology, character, beauty and sociology of Stafford and its surrounding area; to collect, collate and record printed, graphic or other material of historic, archaeological, scientific or other interest; to encourage high standards of architecture, town planning and such other activities as these affect the character of Stafford and area; to stimulate public interest in, and care for the history, the beauty and character of Stafford and locality; to encourage the preservation, development, and improvement of features of historic interest or public amenity; and to pursue these ends by meetings, exhibitions, lectures, visits to places of interest, publications, other forms of instruction and publicity, and the promotion of schemes of a charitable nature.

The society was established in the late 1950s, and became Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society in 1995, reflecting its county-wide activities and its publication of original research papers.

Staffordshire Heritage Group (formerly Stafford Borough Heritage Group) acts as a hub for all local history, genealogy, archive, and archaeology groups and societies within the county of Staffordshire who have interests and activities in various aspects of our local Heritage.

Aims are to expand the group’s knowledge of the local history of Staffordshire through a series of historic walks, visits, and talks mostly compiled by original research or with added input from local historians.

The Society has an enviable record in the field of publication of parish registers and it is now one of the few in existence still regularly printing parish registers in book form. We are making a special appeal for new members to support us in our work and are particularly looking for members who would be interested in undertaking some transcribing. The aim of the Society is to print volumes of registers as often as funds allow and we can find the skilled volunteers to do the transcribing. Each member receives a free copy of a register as soon as it is published.

Stoke-on-Trent Museum Archaeological Society (SOTMAS) was founded in 1959 and our stated aim is “to promote and encourage archaeological research, especially the examination, recording and preservation of the antiquities of North Staffordshire."

The aims of the Society are o promote and encourage the public study of British Family History, genealogy, heraldry and allied subjects with particular reference to the ancient Towns of Tipton and Wednesbury.

Walsall Family History GroupSt. Matthews Community CentreSt Matthews CloseWalsall, West Midlands WS1 3DG UKTelephone: 01922 454430Website: Walsall Family History Group

W.F.H.G. is a small group of enthusiastic genealogists based in the market town of Walsall in the county of West Midlands, but still refers to the old county name of Staffordshire whenever genealogy is discussed.

We have a range of speakers with presentations from a broad range of history and also to reflect interest in local trends. We have been involved in a number of projects in the past – for example, working with the West Bromwich Paupers Memorial Committee to help establish a lasting memorial in Heath Lane Cemetery with related educational work, and creating a Paupers Memorial Trail in West Bromwich.

The monthly meetings have been the main regular feature of Willenhall History Society. There have been a lot of interesting talks about different aspects of the history of the town. There have also been many talks about other historical matters from country houses to fairgrounds and canal tunnels to Churches.